Settling into the routine
28.02.2010 - 09.02.2010
Following my stay in Kaitaia, I had to catch and early morning bus to take me to Auckland where I was going to stay with an old family friend, Jarad Bryant, for a few days. I arrived there in the afternoon and in the evening we went out to dinner and then went to the top of an old volcano, Mount Eden, to look at Auckland by night.
Over the next few days I crammed in the visiting of sites- taking in the Museum, the Wintergardens, a day trip and walk up Rangitoto Island, the Maritime museum, the zoo and having lunch with a friend who moved out here a year ago. On Monday afternoon, Jarad and I went to look at the Gannet colony at Muriwai.
Rangitoto Island
Mount Eden
Following my stay in Auckland I set off on my own again, travelling to Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula. Weirdly I bumped in to two people I had met at the YHA in Paihia the previous week- all of us travelling individually, but all deciding to go to the same place and stay in the same hostel!!!!
One of them- Joris (from Belgium) had bought a car which meant that the next day we were able to visit Cathedral Cove, Haihei and the Hot Water Beach. The beaches are really beautiful but the waves are incredibly powerful with very strong rip currents so it is hard to swim in them. The highlight for the area is visiting Hot Water Beach, where you are instructed to dig a hole in the beach which then fills with hot water. Not only was the water hot but at times it was almost too hot to sit in. It was an amazing site to see- tonnes of people digging and sitting in holes on the beach!
Hot Water Beach
Digging a hole at Hot Water Beach
Cathedral Cove
Cathedral Cove
The next day Barbora (a Czech girl) and I decided that we would take the ferry across the bay at Whitianga and visit a different beach. Again the waves were almost too strong to enjoy but we battled them and had a good swim.
Saturday was another day of packing my rucksack and struggling to the bus stop with it for another bus ride to Tauranga- I did the trip with Barbora and another guy from our hostel.
The next morning I went to climb Mount Maunganui. On the way up I met a local lady who asked if I wanted to be shown a different route to the top- she then took me up the side of the mount on a tiny goat track. Along the way she pointed out the various places and islands we were looking at. It was really nice to have some company and wonderful to have some insider knowledge- even if I was a bit scared of the drops below me and the tiny path I was walking on!
Mount Maunganui
On Monday I travelled to the first city in the world that sees the sun- Gisborne. The journey there was very long but through some very dramatic and wonderful countryside. I decided that the next day I would investigate Gisborne by foot- first walking up Kaiti Hill which offers superb views of downtown, then taking a walking route through the city visiting the museum and the oldest standing cottage. I also visited Captain Cook’s landing spot.
Gisborne from Kaiti Hill
Captain Cook Landing Site
Posted by smartie77 09.02.2010 23:32
I love the hot water beach, it looks like a construction site though. You were lucky to meet the local who showed you an alternative route up the mountain, best way to see it I think. Glad you are having a brillant time.
14.02.2010 by kyliesbumm